Hammer-fist
FULL MEMBER
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2012
- Messages
- 1,221
- Reaction score
- 0
Bangladesh to amend war crimes law amid protest
Reuters | 1 hour ago 0
People observe a sit-in protest around a national flag of Bangladesh with a map of the country on it, in Dhaka on February 9, 2013. — Photo Reuters
DHAKA: Bangladesh is planning to amend a law to allow the government to appeal for tougher penalties for war criminals, the law minister said on Sunday, the sixth day of protests since a convicted Islamist leader got a sentence many people think was too light.
The war crimes tribunal sentenced the Islamic party leader, Abdul Quader Mollah, to life in prison on Tuesday on charges including murder, rape and torture, the second verdict in trials that have reopened wounds from Bangladesh’s 1971 war of independence from Pakistan.
The sentence sparked protests by Mollah’s supporters, who say his conviction was politically motivated, but also counter-protests by many Bangladeshis who think his sentence was too lenient and he should have been sentenced to death.
Law Minister Shafique Ahmed said proposal to amend the law would be placed before the cabinet on Monday for approval, and would then go to parliament for ratification.
The amendment would give both sides the right to appeal against any conviction including inadequate sentence or acquittal. Under the law now, the prosecution can appeal only against an order of acquittal.
“The amendment will be passed in the current parliament session,” Ahmed said.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina set up the tribunal in 2010 to investigate abuses during the nine-month war in 1971.
It delivered its first judgment last month, sentencing a former Jamaat-e-Islami and popular Islamic preacher, Abul Kalam Azad, to death on similar charges to the ones Mollah faced. Azad was tried in absentia as he fled the country in April.
Most Bangladeshis had also expected a death sentence to be handed down to Mollah, 64, assistant secretary-general of Jamaat-e-Islami – the country’s biggest Islamist party.
The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of Hasina’s arch rival, former premier Begum Khaleda Zia, and its ally Jamaat-e-Islami, say the prime minister is using the tribunal as a political weapon against them.
Hasina has rejected accusations that the tribunal is biased but it has been criticised by human rights groups for failing to adhere to standards of international law.
Eight other Jamaat leaders along with two from the BNP also face charges in the tribunal.
Bangladesh to amend war crimes law amid protest | World | DAWN.COM
@Anonymous you asked me earlier about the legalities of this, hence feel free to read this article.
1. Please refrain from personal attacks, insults and abuse.
2. The Pakistani posters I tagged are those aside from your emotional self are those who have spoken out against the Taliban and or Jamat in Pakistan. A former Jamati member (Shibir) here said the Taliban were essentially good thus I posted links and tagged some people who are anti-Taliban, anti-Jamat.
The rest of your highly emotional and abusive post is off-topic and makes no sense.
Reuters | 1 hour ago 0
People observe a sit-in protest around a national flag of Bangladesh with a map of the country on it, in Dhaka on February 9, 2013. — Photo Reuters
DHAKA: Bangladesh is planning to amend a law to allow the government to appeal for tougher penalties for war criminals, the law minister said on Sunday, the sixth day of protests since a convicted Islamist leader got a sentence many people think was too light.
The war crimes tribunal sentenced the Islamic party leader, Abdul Quader Mollah, to life in prison on Tuesday on charges including murder, rape and torture, the second verdict in trials that have reopened wounds from Bangladesh’s 1971 war of independence from Pakistan.
The sentence sparked protests by Mollah’s supporters, who say his conviction was politically motivated, but also counter-protests by many Bangladeshis who think his sentence was too lenient and he should have been sentenced to death.
Law Minister Shafique Ahmed said proposal to amend the law would be placed before the cabinet on Monday for approval, and would then go to parliament for ratification.
The amendment would give both sides the right to appeal against any conviction including inadequate sentence or acquittal. Under the law now, the prosecution can appeal only against an order of acquittal.
“The amendment will be passed in the current parliament session,” Ahmed said.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina set up the tribunal in 2010 to investigate abuses during the nine-month war in 1971.
It delivered its first judgment last month, sentencing a former Jamaat-e-Islami and popular Islamic preacher, Abul Kalam Azad, to death on similar charges to the ones Mollah faced. Azad was tried in absentia as he fled the country in April.
Most Bangladeshis had also expected a death sentence to be handed down to Mollah, 64, assistant secretary-general of Jamaat-e-Islami – the country’s biggest Islamist party.
The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of Hasina’s arch rival, former premier Begum Khaleda Zia, and its ally Jamaat-e-Islami, say the prime minister is using the tribunal as a political weapon against them.
Hasina has rejected accusations that the tribunal is biased but it has been criticised by human rights groups for failing to adhere to standards of international law.
Eight other Jamaat leaders along with two from the BNP also face charges in the tribunal.
Bangladesh to amend war crimes law amid protest | World | DAWN.COM
@Anonymous you asked me earlier about the legalities of this, hence feel free to read this article.
Stop being a kid and blaming everyone you hate of being a Jamaati. We have people in Bangladesh who care about the Pakistan-Bangladesh relationship rather than those who have a habit of stomping on our flags. What happened, happened. In case the writer of that post didn't notice Afghans want our land back which was taken 100+ years ago. Pakistanis don't which was taken 30+ years ago. Call it beghairati or whatever but we gave up half our land because you are happy and recognized Bangladesh.
Stop being such a belligerent person and picking fights with every Pakistani hammer-fist. I left you alone after our altercation because you are on some Ultra-chauvinist mission. Now you tag me. Also no one in Pakistan supports the taliban and these murders, especially aforementioned people.
1. Please refrain from personal attacks, insults and abuse.
2. The Pakistani posters I tagged are those aside from your emotional self are those who have spoken out against the Taliban and or Jamat in Pakistan. A former Jamati member (Shibir) here said the Taliban were essentially good thus I posted links and tagged some people who are anti-Taliban, anti-Jamat.
The rest of your highly emotional and abusive post is off-topic and makes no sense.
Last edited by a moderator: